It’s Getting Hot Around Here

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World scientists agree that global warming poses a great risk to humanity and life as we know it. The key to reducing global warming is to reduce activities that produce the greenhouse gases that cause the earth’s temperature to rise. To help achieve this goal, we must carefully examine the amount of resources it takes to support our lifestyles. One way is by looking at our carbon footprint – a measure of how much greenhouse gases our actions produce in terms of carbon dioxide.

According to a 2006 UN Report ‘Livestock’s Long Shadow’, raising livestock for food consumption is responsible for 18 percent of all greenhouse gases emitted. That’s more than the entire transportation industry around the world combined!

As you can see, there are many reasons people choose to go veg. So don’t be intimidated if someone you know adopts this form of eating. Ask a few questions. You might be surprised at the answers.

Recipe: Good Morning Sunshine Apple Pancakes

One of our top 50 recipes from The Most Remarkable Vegan Recipe Contest.

Good Morning Sunshine Apple Pancakes
Kimberly Brown, Kansas

4 servings  5 minutes prep  10 minutes cook
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 Tbl sucanat
1 cup soymilk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract (alcohol­ free)
1 cup applesauce

1.  Place  flour baking powder cinnamon and sucanat into large  mixing bowl and  mix together well.

2.  Add soy milk  vanilla and applesauce t o flour  mixture and  mix until well combined.

3.  Heat a large skillet with  non­stick cooking spray over  medium to medium ­high heat.  Spoon
batter onto skillet using a 1/3 cup measuring cup or to your desired pancake size.  Loosen
pancakes  from skillet when they  start to bubble and look browned on bottom side.  Turn them
over using a  metal spatula and cook other side briefly until that side  is  brown.  Transfer pancakes
to plates and serve hot.

Serve traditional  style with pure  maple syrup.

Serve as a rich breakfast by spooning some apple pie  filling onto a stack of pancakes.
Spread strawberry or apricot natural preserves on pancake add some sliced  fruit of choice and
roll pancake  for a ’crepe­like’  breakfast.”

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The Silent Chef Speaks

Anyone who has worked in the food service industry knows what a hectic, fast paced life it entails. Those who have started their own restaurant know that it can be an all consuming process that requires 24/7 attention. Recipes and menus need to be created, systems developed, staff trained, walls painted – you name it. The formation of The Blossoming Lotus Restaurant on Kaua’i, Hawaii was no exception. It was ordinary in many regards and extraordinary in others.

Mark Reinfeld is the founding chef. He had over 10 years of vegan consulting experience under his belt before arriving on the Island. He and partners Gabriel Zingaro and Jessyka Murray worked tirelessly with a group of people to open the restaurant. What is unique about this story is that Mark was a silent partner. Silent in the true sense of the word. He observed a vow of silence for the first 18 months of the restaurant’s history.

The Blossoming Lotus went on to win the 2006 Ilima Award for “Best Restaurant on Kaua’i”. Mark’s cookbook, Vegan Fusion World Cuisine, has won 9 national awards, including a Gourmand Award for ‘Best Vegetarian Cookbook in the USA.’

QUESTION: Mark, I found out recently that you weren’t speaking when you first came to Kaua’i. Can you tell us about that time?

When I came to Kaua’i in February of 2002, it was originally for a 2 week vacation. When I got here I loved it so much I decided to stay. Based on some of my past experiences, I was interested in doing an extended silent retreat. I thought I could find a private chef gig where I would live on someone’s land and live a quiet life. As it turns out, I was offered a consulting position, helping an internet café convert itself to a vegan café and bakery which we called The Blossoming Lotus. The pull to retreat was so strong I wound up observing 18 months of continual silence.

Q: Wow! I don’t know where to begin. Did you have any prior experience with extended periods of silence?

I had been on several 10 day silent retreats as well as an occasional day or weekend retreat. I was also in silence during a 6 month travel journey in the Indian Himalayas. It became more and more natural and comfortable for me to be in silence. The closest I can come to describing it is to imagine how you feel when you wake up really early in the morning and don’t feel like talking. Or if you visit a place that is so breathtakingly beautiful that it leaves you speechless. It’s similar to that except for an extended period.

Q: Can you share why you did this for so long?

Mainly because of the deep sense of peace that can open up from the space of silence. Silence of speech makes it easier to witness the patterns of the mind. I very much wanted to clear my mind and this seemed like a powerful way to go about it. It helped me to observe events without reacting, at least verbally. It was rarely a struggle. A few times I did slip up and say ‘thank you”.

Stay tuned for the next segment of our interview with Mark Reinfeld where we learn how he communicated with his business partners and staff. Discover how he met his wife Jennifer while in silence and why he decided to speak.

Recipe: Moroccan Soup

One of our top 50 recipes from The Most Remarkable Vegan Recipe Contest

Moroccan Soup
Susan  Brudner, Northampton Massachusetts

6 servings  30 minutes prep  30 minutes cook
1 1/2 cup Spanish onion chopped
2 cup cooked garbanzo
2 Butternut squash ­­ 8­-10 cups
1 1/2 cup red pepper chopped
2 Tbl olive oil
1­ 12 oz can coconut milk
1 cup raisins
2 Tbl curry powder
1 Tbl cumin
pinch of cayenne
1/4 cup tamari
1/2 cup orange juice
2 cup sweet potato or regular potato chopped
2 quarts of water
salt and pepper to taste

1. Peel and chop squash boil unt il  fork­tender then  puree. Peel and chop potato boil until  fork
tender

2. In a large pot, sauté onions  in olive o il and tamari unt il onions are translucent. Add red pepper
and sauté  for a minute. Add potatoes curry and cumin.

3. Mix  in pureed squash 1 qt water coconut milk and chick peas turn to low a let simmer 10
minutes. Add raisins cayenne, orange  juice, salt and pepper. Add more water if too thick. It
should  be thinner than a stew and thicker than a soup.

Best when  left to sit an hour. Garnish with cilantro. Can be served over a whole grain. This
recipe knocks the socks off of our customers at our vegan cafe  in Massachusetts.

How to Detox for Better Health

Q: I am interested in doing a “detox” for better health. My first question is what exactly is a detox and what if any foods should I avoid or focus on to help me through such a process?

Mark: First I would like to say that ‘detoxifying’ is a relative term. It involves going from a more toxic state to a state of less toxicity, or ideally to a state of optimal health.

Toxins Come from Many Places

There are many reasons why people have accumulated toxins in their body. Environmental pollution, poor food choices and even genetic predispositions can cause our body to retain certain harmful substances. When we have these accumulated toxins, our body does not function optimally. Digestion may be sluggish; we may have allergic reactions, feel lethargic and have a host of other symptoms that can mask as many common ailments.

Healing with Food

As you know, we are strong proponents of healing with food. Food plays such a central role in our lives. When we make healthier food choices, our body responds by functioning at a higher level. As I mentioned earlier, the idea of detoxifying is relative. Most everyone benefits from detoxing- from those on the standard American diet (SAD) to those on living foods diets.

So the types of foods and the types of cleanses we would recommend are relative to the current state of health of the individual. Generally when we consume ‘lighter’ foods compared to what we regularly eat, our body will begin a natural process of detoxifying. In all instances, we recommend using organically grown ingredients whenever possible.

Chose a Cleanse that’s Right for You

There are many different types of cleanses and fasts for people to try. Different strokes for different folks. Some people benefit from juice or water fasting, others may go on a fruit only fast, some benefit from doing cleanses that involve a simple diet of grains and vegetables.

Gentle Detoxing

For those who would like a gentle way to detoxify through use of diet we suggest the following. Pick a week where you can experiment with making some changes to your eating habits. Evaluate your current diet. If you are eating lots of heavy foods, such as red meat, try going a week without it. You may want to also eliminate dairy products, which has proven to be an incredible way to clear up allergies, asthma and congestion. Many times we have food allergies that we are unaware of until we do without the food for a certain period of time.

Fasting

Other things to look at ‘fasting’ from include fried and greasy foods, refined sugars and flours, wheat products, coffee and or caffeine. Limiting salt intake is also a great thing to strive for in your cleanses. It’s important to remember that although you may be enjoying the taste of these things now, you will often notice very positive changes in your health by fasting from any of them.

Eliminating Cooked Foods

One type of ‘fast’ that we enjoy is to eliminate all cooked foods from the diet. This can be for a day or a week or longer. . During this cleanse you may enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables, salads, smoothies, teas and juices. You can also enjoy small quantities of raw nuts and seeds. This can prove to be a powerful way to activate a natural cleansing or detoxing process.

Juice Fasting

If your diet is relatively healthy, you may want to experiment with a juice fast, or fruit and juice combination. Fresh squeezed lemon juice with water is an amazing drink to include as it helps reduce mucus, provides vitamin c and potassium. Grapefruits are a great food to include in a fruit cleanse. Along with the vitamin C, the rutin in the grapefruit acts as a natural blood purifier. See below for a simple and refreshing grapefruit salad.

Tea Cleanses

There are several teas that can also be enjoyed during cleanses, depending on which part of the body you are focusing on in the cleanse. This is a vast topic and is best covered in a future article. Some suggestions for teas for detoxing may include red clover or dandelion root which are used as blood purifiers. Kukicha tea has been used to assist in detoxing for those who have consumed a large amount of animal fats.

Supplementing Your Cleanse

Supplementing your cleanse with some green superfoods like spirulina or wheatgrass juice gives your body the important micronutrients it needs. New Greens by Pure Prescriptions, mixed with some fruit juice or water is one of my favorite additions to most cleanses. Please see below for a sample recipe.

Listen to Your Body

It’s important to listen to your body. Something to be aware of is a ‘cleansing reaction’. When our bodies begin to detoxify, these toxins are released and can sometimes cause symptoms to appear such as nausea, headaches etc. Let your body be the judge. This may be a sign that you are detoxing too quickly.

Move Your Body

Light exercise is a wonderful compliment to any cleanse. In addition to the release of ‘feel good’ endorphins and all the cardiovascular benefits of exercise, light exercise opens up the pores and allows toxins to be released through our largest eliminative organ – the skin. Sitting in a sauna a few times a week for up to 10 minutes will also release these toxins.

Keep it Fun!

Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind is that this process of detoxifying through diet should be fun. Remember that we are journeying towards a state of optimal health and well being. Envision the healthier you and this can inspire you along the way.

Enjoy these recipes from our cookbook:

Simple New Greens Smoothie

• 10 ounces fresh apple juice or other fruit juice
• 4 ounces filtered water – or to taste for desired sweetness
• 2 tsp new greens by pure prescriptions
• 1 small banana
• 1 tsp hemp seeds-optional
• 1 tsp soy lecithin- optional
• 1 tsp flax oil- optional

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend well. If you leave out the banana, you can stir all ingredients in a tall glass. You may also replace the banana with some other fruit, fresh or frozen.

Simple Grapefruit Salad

• 1 medium grapefruit
• ½ medium lime, juiced
• 1 small date- pitted and chopped small
• few mint leaves, minced

Peel grapefruit and divide into segments. Chop into small pieces. Combine with other ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Enjoy.

Seek Out A Qualified Health Care Practitioner

Detoxing, fasting and cleansing is a vast topic. Please consult a qualified health care practitioner if you have any questions or concerns, if your health is challenged in any way and before engaging in longer fasts and cleanses. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

None of the above is intended as medical advice. Since every individual’s health condition and circumstance are unique, we recommend seeking the services of a qualified health care professional before using any of this information for medical purposes.

Raw Weight Loss, Every Little Bit Helps

QUESTION: How raw do I need to be to experience the benefits of a weight loss program?

MARK: Our professional opinion is that every little bit helps. People notice improvements simply by including a few more servings of fruits and vegetables in their daily regime. Getting up to 50% raw will begin to bring even more results. Eating 75-80% raw is considered by many to be an ideal level. Purists say we need to be at 100% to get the full effects. We say go as raw as you can, as naturally as you can and always feel good about your choices.

Have a question for the natural chef?

Please email: mark [at]veganfusion[dot]com

Vegetarian by Personal Conviction

A Few Reasons for Becoming Vegetarian

Many people become vegetarians because of religious or ethical convictions that prohibit the killing of animals. Some simply don’t think it’s cool to kill and believe we are meant to be stewards and caretakers of the earth and its inhabitants. These people do not wish to support practices that inflict harm or suffering on any creature who has the capacity to feel pain.

The small family farm where husbandry practices engendered a certain respect for animals used for food is becoming a thing of the past. Today, most of the world’s meat, dairy, and egg production occurs on massive factory farms owned by agribusiness conglomerates. Farming has become big business, and profits dictate how the animals are treated – which means they’re often kept and transported in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.

Secret of Raw Foods Weight Loss – Healthy Snacking

QUESTION: Snacks are my downfall whenever I attempt a weight-loss program. Any pointers to keep me on track?

MARK: Keeping satisfied in between meals is the secret to succeeding in eating raw. The convenience factor plays a major part in this. Having healthful alternatives available prevents you from snacking on unhealthy fast food and impulse-purchase foods.

Here are some great raw snack ideas:

fresh fruits

cut up vegetables such as carrots, celery, and bell peppers with a small amount of nut butter

the infinite array of fruit smoothies

dehydrated fruits, such as bananas, apples, and figs.

You can also create your own raw trail mix including raw nuts, seeds, and superfoods such as raw cacao and goji berries. Enjoy the nuts and seeds in moderation.

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Chocolate Orange Pudding

Chocolate Orange Pudding

from the Complete Idiots Guide to Eating Raw

Sure to please the whole family, this pudding actually resembles an elegant mousse.

Yield: 3 cups
Prep time: 15 minutes
Chill time: 1+ hours
Serving size: [1/3] cup
2 cups avocado, mashed
6 TB. raw cacao powder
2 TB. raw carob powder
2 tsp. orange zest
4 dates, soaked
[1/4] cup date soak water
[1/4] cup agave nectar
3 TB. freshly squeezed orange juice

1. In the food processor with the s-blade attachment, blend avocado, cacao powder, carob powder, orange zest, dates, date soak water, agave and orange juice on high speed for 40 seconds until a smooth consistency is reached.

2. Enjoy right away or store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.

Variations

Substitute [1/2] teaspoon of mint extract for orange zest.
Try adding 2 tablespoons of rose water.

Recipe courtesy of Jennifer Murray.

Mark Reinfeld, Author, Vegan Fusion World Cuisine: Healing Recipes and Timeless Wisdom from our Hearts to Yours & The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw

Please visit www.veganfusion.com or www.blossominglotus.com for more information.